Visit the National Council and learn more about the legislative body. Attend debates, question time, and committee meetings.

• Attend a sitting - Proceedings of the National Council are open to the public. National Council sittings are announced in advance through media and National Council websites. Click hereto find out how you can attend proceedings when the National Council is in session.

• Virtual Tours – Take a virtual tour of the National Council and get to know about the country’s law-making body. Click Here to take a tour.

Visitors must comply with the following instructions:

• Visitors will have to go through security screening and vehicle checks to enter the Parliament complex. Please arrive at least 20 minutes earlier to avoid delays.

• Visitors will be required to present identification (ID card or passport) for verification and issue of an (admission) pass, which must be returned when leaving.

• Visitors should be dressed formally. No admission will be granted to anyone not appropriately dressed.

• Visitors are to safeguard their belongings and electronic devices at the security check.

• Photography is not allowed inside parliament premises.

Public entrance parking

Public entrance to the National Council is via Gate II from the Langjopakha highway. Public parking facilities are available subject to availability. For more information, please refer to FAQs – getting to the National National Council.

Tours of National Council hall - Non sitting day – Duration one hour

Timings: Monday to Friday: 10 am and 2:30 pm

Group size – 20.

Attire - National dress for Bhutanese and formal attire for other visitors

Programme brief - This tour will give visitors a first-hand feel of the National Council. Visitors will get an opportunity to visit the debating chamber where members discuss and debate legislation, the committee and plenary rooms, and the offices of the Chariperson and secretary-general.

At the end of the tour, visitors can also meet and interact with an MP, if available.

During the tour visitors will

• Visit the main chamber room and learn of seating arrangements – Druk Gyalpo, Chairperson, Members, VVIP, entry and exit doors

• Learn about the electronic voting system and how voting is done

• Learn about the etiquette in the chamber room

• Seating gallery for visitors, press gallery

• Visit a committee meeting room

• Visit the media and recording room

• Visit the offices of the offices of the Chairperson, and the Secretary-General

• Visit the National Council Library

• Meet an MP

All members of the group to carry identification – ID card, school ID, passport. Group to arrive at the compound of the National Council at least 15 minutes ahead of the tour program for security check where admission passes will be issued. Here you will be received by a secretariat staff who will serve as a guide.

The tour of the National Council will begin from its lawn compound where the secretariat staff will give you a background on the history of the building which served other purposes before housing the National Council in 2008.

Once inside, you will be taken on a walk through the hallways that have several displays of historical and political significance, including photographs of the earlier National Council and parliament.

The main visit will be inside the National Council Hall where the secretariat staff will explain the seating arrangements and voting systems.

At the end of the tour, you will get an opportunity to interact with a National Councilor, if available.

Visit National Council Sitting Day

Attend 'live' proceedings and observe how laws are made and votes are cast. Observe how ministers are questioned by the MPs on actions taken by the government.

After observing the proceedings from the public galleries, a briefing will be provided by secretariat staff.

Visitors can observe parliamentary proceedings beginning from 10 am, and admission will depend on the availability of seats in the public gallery. There will be no guided tour of the National Council on this program.

Time - This program will only be published after the sitting date has been finalized and published on our website.

Group Size - 10

Attire - National dress for Bhutanese and formal attire for other visitors.

Gallery Pass – All visitors who wish to attend a live session will require a gallery pass. The gallery pass is issued from the ground floor of the Gyelyong Tshokhang on the left side of public entrance and opens an hour before sitting begins at 10 am.

Duration - Visitors attending a live session can come in at any time and leave before the session ends.